Tractor trailer



M rch 192 a 7 c. H. LAND TRACTOR TRAILER Original Filed March 12,- 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOI. I 4 a w .2 zlubo A TTORNE Y.

March 1927.

22, c. H. LAND TRACTOR TRAILER Original Filed March 12. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. v

l fil w A TTORNE Y.

March 22,1927. 92

C. H. LAND TRACTOR TRAI LER Original Filed March 12, 1926 4 Sheets- Sheet 5 l l /a/ g Z INVENTOR. &

QQKQ/Z ATTORNEY.

March 22,1927.

c. H. LAND TRACTOR TRAILER Original Filed March 12. 192E 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I N VEN TOR.

- ATTORNEY. v

Patented Mar 22, 1927. 1 621 592 mural s'rarss a r-"ion.

CHARLES )3. LAND, 015' DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

'rnacron TRAILER.

Application filed March 12, 1926, Serial No. 84,120.- Renewed February lfl, 1827.-

. This invention relates to an improvement adapted to enga e a trip lever on trailer in tractor-trailers shown in the accompanylock and adapte to be optionally operated ing drawings and particularly set forth in to disengage the lock on the trailer.

the following specification and claims. Co-ordinating with the mechanism for This invention relate generally to an imraising and lowering the sup orting leg and provement in automatic coupling means for for locking the tractor to tire trailer is a trailers and particularly to an improved leg hydraulic brake mechanism that automatilifting mechanism and lock release mechacally engages or disengages with actuatin nism for same. mechanism on tractor when the tractor an a 10 One object of the invention is to provide trailer are coupled or uncou led, also amana new and positive means for automatically ually controlled hydraulic rake system on raising and lowering a supporting leg Wh n trailer and means on tractor to disengage it the trailer and tractor are being coupled or from lo ked o ition uncoupled. a v The brake mechanism however, while oo- 15 A further object is to provlde for the coordinating-and for that reason shown 7 operative relation with the couplm and with th m h is f i i d l uncoupling of the tractor to the tra1 er of ing the supporting leg and other features of a braking device one P3115 Ofwhlch 15 the pres nt invention form the subject matried by the tractor and one part by the ter of an ther application. 2

One of the'objects of the present invenview which will a pear as the description tion is to provide a hydraulic line or sysproceeds the invention further resides in the temsonnected with PP g g on the combination and arrangement of parts and trailer with means carried on the tractor to in the details of construction hereinafter deengage m h n f sald llne w r y the scribed and claimed, it being understood supporting leg can be thrown into or out that changes may be made in the precise of action by the backward or forward movcembodiment of the invention herein disment of the tractor. closed without departing from the spirit of Another feature of the mvention consists thg in providing a rolling carriage connected to In the drawings accompanying this speci- 95 the supportlng leg interposed in a hydraulic fication:

line in such a manner that the backward Figure 1 is a plan view of a trailer showor forward flow of'the liquid raises or'lowing a fragment of the rear end of a tractor ers said leg. g to which it is con led.

5 A further object of the invention consists Figure 2 is a ongitudinal vertical secin providing a plurality of cylinders contional view through the trailer and the rear --nected by piping in such a manner that the end of a tractor to which it is coupled showexhaustion of liquid in one cylinder fills the ing the supporting leg of the trailer raised area of the other cylinders with equal volfrom the ground.

40 none, but whichare of different lengths and Figure 3 is a similar view with the leg diameters so that a relatively small movelowered, the couplinglhook of the trailer ment of the tractor may be multiplied in being shown in released relation to the co-' lifting the supporting leg. 4 operating tractor coupling mechanism.

Another feature of the invention consists Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan'view of trailer. With the foregoing and other objects in 75 45 in constructing the device that the piston the rear end of the tractor with a portion heads of the forward cylinders are so spaced of the upper turn-plate broken away to disthat an actuating lug on the fifth wheel of close the lower locking plate of the turn the tractor will always come between them table and air cylinder for controlling the when coupling the tractor to the trailer. lock' and brake mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to Figure 5 is a. fragmentary longltudlnal provide a lockin mechanism on the trailer vertical sectional view through the forward co-ordinating with the fifth. wheel on the end of the trailer and the rear end of the tractor adapted to permit engagement with tractor showing the fifth wheel tllted air mechanism attached to the upper turnthe locking hook of the trailer in the posiplate and having a slidable lug which is tion it would appear when about to engage me a or when released from the locking bar of the tractor.

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the forward end of the trailer resting upon its supportin wheel. I

Figure% is a side elevation of a tractor with parts broken away and in section showing the air reservoir and leads to thelock releasing cylinder and brake cylinder and air controlling valve.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the forward end of the trailer showing the locking hook engaged with the lock bar carried by the upper turnplate of the fifth wheel ;-a fragment of which is shown, and in dotted lines the locking hook released, due to contact with the trip locking lug.

Referring now to the reference numerals placed upon the drawings to indicate the several parts of the apparatus,in which like characters designate the same parts in the several views:

The sills 1 of the trailer A are constructed of channel iron with their flanges extending outwardly and are bolted to transverse channel members 2-3456-7 and 8 secured to the side sills of the trailer frame. At the forward end of the trailer are brackets 16 including arc-shaped tracking members 16 and rollers 17 journaled in the brackets. The arc-shaped tracking members 16 bolted to the frame of the trailer are designed to ride up the inclined tracks or skids 124 of the tractor B upon backing the tractor into the trailer and in doing so the swinging supporting wheels 21 at the forward end of the trailer are lifted from the ground. -A further backing movement of the tractor will result in the rollers 17 encountering the inclined upper turn-plate 101 of the fifth wheel C of the tractorwhich is normall inclined when the tractor is uncoupled rom the trailerthis movement lifts the areshaped tracking members .16 clear of the skids 124 and when the rollers 17 in riding up the inclined turn-plate 101 reach approximately the dotted line a-a, the fifth wheel is forced into a horizontal position. An impact lug 102 extending upwardly from the turnplate 101 is now brought. into position between the cross members 36. attached to the ends of the respective piston rods35 and 36. The piston rod of the cylinder 37, due to impact with the lug 102, is thus forced backward and oil contained in the cylinder is discharged through pipe connections 38-39 into the cylinder 40 thereby forcing out its piston rod 42. The piston rod 42 is attached to a roller carriage 27 which is in turn attached to a piston rod 28 projecting from the cylinder 29. The roller carriage 27 is fitted with a plurality of rollers 26 which transverse and are guided by an I-beam 43 mounted at one end upon a cross member of the frame and at the other end supported in a bracket 44 bolted to one of the transverse beams of the trailer frame.

The forward movement of the piston rod 42 leg members is an axle 22 which at each end carrles leg wheels 2121. Arms 24-24 are pivoted to the supporting leg members at 23 and at 25 to the traveling carriage 27. Thus when the carriage 27 is forced to the limit of'itsbackward movement the supporting wheels 21 of the leg frame are lifted from the ground and are maintained in this position so long as the trailer is coupled to the tractor; When it is desired to uncouple the tractor from the trailer the impact of the lug 102 carried by the turnplate 101 against the head of the piston rod 35 presses out the fluid from the cylinder 34 thereby reversing the flow and forcing the supporting leg into an operative or downward position.

It will now be noted that by maintaining equal volumes of li uid in each of the cylinders and by providing pistons of different length and diameter, a short or long piston action may be obtained.

It will also be noted that as semi-trailers are often of considerable length, a hydraulic system of this character affords a more positive' and practical method than is offered by the usual thrust bars or gearing commonly employed for raising and lowering a trailer supporting leg.

It will now be assumedthat. the forward end of. the trailer is in proper relation to the fifth wheel of the tractor whereby the coupling hook'70 may drop over the coupling bar 100, bolted to the upper turn-plate of the fifth wheel and that the rearward edge of the turn-plate is caused 'to project into suitable lugs or stop brackets 18, secured to the frame,thus securing the tilting plate in a horizontal plane with the trailer locked to the tractor.

Before coupling the tractor and trailer together a hand brake is set and when set is maintained in this condition until the coupling operation is completed. The manually operated braking lever 69,-pivoted to a segmental ratchet 68,-when actuated operates a brake rod 67 connected with a brake lever 66 upon the shaft 62, supported in hearing brackets 65 attached to the side sills of the trailer frame. Sleeved upon the shaft 62 is a coil spring 64one end of which bears against one of the brackets 65 and the other end of the spring against a slidable member der 108 for tripping the mamas versely through the end of the piston rod 58 projecting from the hydraulic cylinder 56, supported by a bracket 57 bolted to one' of the transverse beams sills of the trailer.

Immediately before the coupling hook connecting the side drops into engagement with the lock bar 100,'

a'tripping lug 103 on the fifth wheel forces the depending arm 63* of the ratchet coupling member 63 out of engagement with its cooperating member 63 thereby separating the ratchet member and releasing the brakes for transit. lVhile the trailer is coupled tothe tractor the braking is done from the cab of the tractor by means of a combined air and hydraulic system. A pawl 59 pivoted on the pin 60 at the end of the piston rod 58 in alignment with a slid-able lug 115 is secured to the piston rod 115 of an air brake cylinder 114 attached to the upper turnplate of the fifth wheel. .The 'slidable lug 115 projects through a longitudinal slot. in the turn-plate an d contacts with the pawl 59 when airpressure is admitted to the cylinder 114' to actuate the piston rod of the latter. This action forces the piston into the cylinder 56 compressing the coil spring 58 and forcing the fluid contents'through the pipe 55 to branch pipes 5454. The latter 'plpf ing is loose and flexible toallow for action of the springs 10 and axle 13 of the trailer. The fluid from the pipes 54-54 flows through the pipe 53 into the cylinders 52-52 forcing out the piston rods 51-51 attached to the brakecam levers 50-50 operating the expanding brakes 14-14 on the rear wheels of the trailer.

- Mounted on the tractor and controlled in the cab is a compressed air tank 125 and controlling valve 126 applied to many trucks. Two air leads 113 and 118 respectively ex tend from the control valve to the air cylinfrom the coupling bar 100,-the other lead connects the air. brake cylinder 114 controlling the brake mechanism. The air for the brake passes through flexible rubber pip ing 118 through pipe 117 to the cylinder lug 115*projecting upwardly through a slot in the turn-plate 101. This lug contacts with the pawl 59 of the system. .A coil spring 116 on. the piston rod 115 bearing at one end against the annular wall of the upper turn plate of the fifth-wheel and at the other against lug 115' serves to return the piston to' its initial position following the operation.

To uncouple the trailer the operator releases the air into the flexible rubber tubing 113*, that it may flow through the pipe 112.

locking hook 70 the piston rod 115 to zontal position.

into the cylinder 108 forcing out the piston 109 to which is secured an oil-set lug 110 projecting through an elongated slot in the turn-plate 101. This lug-when the tractor and trailer are coupled togetheris in'a co-operating position with the trip lever 71 of the trailer. The action of the lug 110 serves to trip the lever 71 raising the coupling hook 70 from engagement with the coupling bar 100; The tractor may now be pulled away from the trailer that the leg may return to a supporting position before the wheel tilts to release the lug 102 from contact with the cross member 36 on the pieton rod 35.

The u per turn-plate 101 of the fifth wheel is provided on its under side with an annular dependingpost 104 journaled in an annular collar 106 integral with the lower rocking plate 105. The upper turn-plate 101 has'an annulardepending rim 101. adapted to support the turn-plate in spaced relation to the floor of the rocking plate 105 providin a chamber in which the respective air cylin ers 108 and 114 are'housed. The lower rocking plate 1050f the fifth wheel is provided with a pair of spaced bearing lugs 123 integral with the plate adapted to 'sup-' jecting in opposite directions from a centralhub secured to trunnion's 120, jonrnaled in supporting brackets 119,bolted -to the rame of the tractor. Springs 122 are sleeved on the ends of'each of the shafts 121.one end of each the lugs 123,- securedto'each end of the shafts.

Having indicated the several parts by reference numerals the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood.

To couple the tractor to the trailer the tractor isbacked in as straight a line as possible into the trailer. The arc-shaped tracking members 16 upon contact with the mounting skids 124 lift the front end of the trailer and the supporting wheels 21. On continuing the backing rollers 17 encounter the initially inclined plate 101 lifting the tracking members 16 clear of the skids.

When the rollers pass approximately to the position indicated by a line w-a (see Fi ure 5) the fifth wheel is forced into a 11011- Ailug 102 on the fifth wheel-when the latter tilts-then enters between the ends ofthefpiston rods 3536 and upon contacting with the end of the piston rod 36., the backing continues. The piston of cylinder. 37 is thus forced backward 'and the oil discharged through pi es 38. and 39 into cylinder 40 thereby pus ing out the piston rod 42. As the piston rod 42 is at-' tached to the roller carriage 27. which in turn is also attached to the piston rod 28, the oil is forced out of the cylinder 29 at 31 and spring bearing against. the other end against a collarflows back through the pipe 32 into cylinders 34 and 33. This forces out the piston 35 into a position ready to reverse the action. The leg arms 2 124 connecting the carriage 27 and the supporting members 21 of the leg frame thus raise the supporting wheels from the ground and they remain in this position as long as the trailer is coupled to the tractor. \Vhen the tractor is uncoupled from the offers a more positive and practical method than thrust bars or other gearing commonly employed for raising and lowering the supporting leg. The hook bar 7 0 having dropped over the coupling bar 100, bolted to the upper plate of the fifth wheel, the trailer is now locked to the tractor.

A hand brake is first set before coupling the tractor to the trailer, by a backward movement of the lever 69 and this braking condition is maintained until the coupling is about to be completed. Immediately before the hook drops into position to engage the coupling lock bar the lug 103 on the fifth wheel forces the arm 63 of the shaft coupling and separates the plates 63-63. This action releases the brakes for transit. When coupled the braking is done from the cab of the tractor by means of a combined air and hydraulic system. The pawl 59 bein in alignment with the lug 115 of the Iifth wheel contacts with it when air pressure actuates piston rod 115. This action forces the piston into" the cylinder 56 compressing the coil spring 58 and forcing the fluid contents through pipe 55 to branch pipes 54-51.- The fluid flows into the cylinders 52-52 forcing out the piston rods 51-51 attached to the cam levers 5050 completing the braking action. a The compressed air controlling valve 126 in the cab of the tractor with two leads connecting thecompression tank 125 with the two cylinders 108 and 114, supported between the upper and lower plates of the fifth wheel, have been previously described and therefore require no further description at this point.

Having thus describ I claim is:

1. In combination with a tractor and trailer: a plurality of cylinders carried by the trailer; a supporting leg for the trailer; mechanism for automatically operating said supporting leg interposed between the pisd my invention what tons of two of said cylinders and adapted to co-operate therewith, co-ordinating means carried by the tractor adapted upon either backing the tractor or on driving it in a forward direction to alternately and automatically actuate said leg operating mechanism, whereby the leg may be shifted to either a supporting or non-supporting position.

2. In combination with a tractor and trailer; means for automatically coupling and uncoupling the tractor to the trailer; means for manually braking the trailer prior to the coupling operation; a plurality of cylinders; a movable supporting leg for the trailer; mechanism for automatically operating said supporting leg'interposed between the pistons of two of said cylinders and adapted to co-operate therewith, coordinating means carried by the tractor adapted upon backing the tractor or driving it in a forward direction to alternately and automatically actuate said leg operatingmechanism into or out of position to support the forward end of the tractor.

3. In combination with a. tractor and trailer; a plurality of hydraulic cylinders carried by the trailer; a supporting leg carried by the frame of the trailer; means connecting the pistons of said cylinders with the supporting leg to raise and lower the latter; a pipe connection between the cylinders, whereby the fluid contained in the cylinders may be made to flow in either direction alternately to actuate the pistons to either raise or lower said supporting leg; and means carried by the tractor adapted to alternately engage the opposing piston rods of two of the cylinders, whereby a backing and hauling movement of the tractor will iilternately raise and lower the supporting In combination with a tractor and trailer; a plurality of hydraulic cylinders connected together, whereby liquid may exhaust from one cylinder into other cylinders said cylinders being of equal volume but 0 different lengths and diameters, whereby the fluid contained in one cylinder when displaced may fill the other cylinders at rela tively different speeds; a suppo'rting leg; means connecting the supporting leg with the piston rods of one pair of cylinders; means carried. by the tractor adapted to engage the piston rod of one cylinder to force the fluid through the cylinders in one direction, whereby the leg may be Shifted from its trailer supporting position; and means carried by the tractor adapted to engage the piston rod of another cylinder, whereby the fluid'may be forced through the cylinders in an opposite direction to-actuate the leg mechanism, whereby ,the leg'may support the trailer.

'5. In combination with a tractor and 1 trailer; a plurality of hydraulic cylinders tion to lower trailer; a tilting fifth wheel carried by the. trai connected together, whereby liquid may exhaust from one cylinder into other cylinders, said cylinders being of equal volume but of different lengths and diameters, whereby the fluid contained-in one cylinder when displaced mav fill the other cylinders at .relatively different speeds; a swinging supporting leg pivoted to the trailer and connected with the piston rods of one pair of cylinders; means carried by the tractor adapted to engage the piston rod of one cylinder to force the fluid direction, whereby the swing ng leg may be raised; .and means carried by the tractor adapted to engage the piston rod "of another cylinder, whereby-the fluid may be forced t rough the cylinders in an opposite direcsaid supporting leg respectively upon alternately backing the tractor or driving it in a forward direction. 6. In combination with a tractor and trailer; a tilting fifth wheel carried by the tractor; a pluralit of hydraulic cylinders carried by the trai er; a travelling carriage aligned with and connected to the piston ro s of two of said cylinders; a rail bolted to the frame of, the trailer to guide and support the travelling carriage; a swinging suporting leg for the trailer pivoted to the ame of the latter; arms pivoted to the supporting leg and to the travelling carriage; a pipe connection between the cylinders, whereb fluid contained in the cylinders may flow alternately in opposite directions .between cylinders,-one pairof said cylinders having opposed piston rods spaced apart; and an abutment carried by the fifth wheel adapted when the latter is tilted to swing between the ends of said opposed piston rods, whereby it may alternatey act upon the latter to raise or lower the sup orting leg when the tractor is backed. or riven in a forward direction.

7. In combination with a tracton and carried by the of hydraulic cylinders er; a travelling carriage in alignment and connected with the piston rods of two of said cylinders; a rail bolted to the frame of the-trailer to guide and support the travelling carria e; a swinging suporting leg for the trai er pivoted to the ame of the latter; arms pivoted to the tractor; a pluralit supporting leg and to the travelling car-- riage; a pipe connection between the cylinders, whereby fluid contained in the,cylinders ma flow in alternatedirections between said cy ders,-one pair of said fiylinders having opposed piston rods space apart' an abutment carried by the fifth whee adapted when the latter is tilted to swing between the ends of said op osed "piston rods means carried by the tra1 er forbrak ing the rear wheels of the trailer prior 'to' couphng the tractor to the trailer; means carthrough the cylinders in one supporting leg ried by the trailer for coupling the tractor to the trailer; and means for locking and releasing the coupling means.

8. In combination with a tractor trailer; a tilting fifth wheel carried by the and tractor; a plurality of hydraulic cylinders carried by the trailer; a travelling carriage in alignmentand connected with the piston rods of two of said cylinders; a rail bolted to the frame of'the trailer to guide and support the travellingcarriage; a swinging for the trailer pivoted to the frame of the latter; arms pivoted to the supporting leg and to the travelling carriage; a pipe connection between the cylinders, whereby fluid'contained in the cylin-M ders may flow alternately in opposite directions between cylinders,one pair of cy1in-,

ders. having opposed piston rods spaced apart; an abutment carried by the fifth wheel swing between the ends of said opposed piston rods; manually operated means carried by the trailer for braking the rear Wheels of the latter prior to coupling the tractor to the trailer; means for coupling the trac tor to the trailer; means for automatically locking and releasin the coupling means of the trailer from t e tractor; means carried by the fifth wheel of the tractor adapted to automatically release the manually operated braking mechanism of the trailer, applied prior to coupling the tractor to the trailer; and means operatin from the tractor for applying and releasing the braking mechanism of the trailer while-coupled to the tractor.

- 9. In combination with a tractor and trailer; a plurality of hydraulic cylinders carried b the trailer; a pipe connection between cy inders, whereby the liquid in one cylinder may alternately fill the area of another cylinder to actuate the pistons of the respective cylinders; a swinging supporting leg carried by the trailer; means connecting the swin ing leg with the pistons of one pair of cylinfers; and means carried, by the tractor adapted to enga e the piston rods of another. air of cylin ers, whereby the fluid in said last named cylinders may be displaced to alternately actuate the pistons connected with the swinging legupon alteradaptedwhen the latter is tilted to nately backing the tractor into the trailer or I upon driving the same in a forward direction. i

10. In combination .with a tractor and trailer; a plurality carried by the trailer; a pi e connection between the cylinders, where y liquid in one cylinder may alternately fill the area of another cylinder to actuate cylinders atvarying speeds; a supporting leg carried by the trailer; means connecting the supporting leg with the pistons of one pair of cylinders, whereby the supporting of hydraulic cylinders the pistons of the leg may be shifted to either a supporting or non-supportin position; means carried by tne tractor adapted to engage the piston rods of another pair of cylinders, whereby the fluid insaid last named cylinders may be displaced to alternatelyv actuate the pistons connected with the supporting leg upon either backing the tractor into the trailer or driving the same in a forward direction; a hydraulic brake operating mechanism carried by the trailer; means for coupling the tractor to the trailer; an air cylinder carried by the tractor; a compressed air tank; a valve controlling the delivery of air from the. compressed air tank to actuate the piston of the air cylinder; and means carried by the piston rod of the air cylinder to engage the piston rod of the hydraulic brake cylinder, whereby the trailer brake mechanism may be actuated.

11. In combination with a tractor and trailer; means for automatically coupling and uncoupling the tractor and trailer; a.

plurality of hydraulic cylinders carried by the trailer; a supporting leg for the trailer; means for automatically operating said supporting leg interposed between the pistons of two of said cylinders and co-operating therewith; means carried by the tractor adapted when either backing or driving the tractor in a forward direction to respectively actuate said leg operating mechanism either to a trailer supporting or non-supporting osition; a compressed air mechanism carrled by the tractor, includin an air compression tank, an air control ing valve, an air cylinder; and means carried by the piston rod of the air 0 linder adapted when actuated to engaget e piston rod of the hydraulic brake cylinder, whereby the braking mechanism is actuated.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification.

CHARLES LAND. 

